mercredi 6 février 2013

Made In The Dark is a UK project that is helping to integrate
blind people in India into society with a unique method for
manufacturing jewelry.

Deaf workers make up the core of the staff at the Atfaluna
restaurant in the Gaza Strip, and now another business is making an
effort to integrate those with sight problems into society. Made In The Dark is a jewelry brand enabling blind women in India to create designs using their sense of smell.
Created through a collaboration between three Royal College of Art
students in the UK and two students from the National Institute of
Design in India, the initiative is working with the Blind People’s Association and the Andh Kanya School
in India to find blind women work making handcrafted jewelry designs.
Made In The Dark uses scented beads so that the women can identify which
colors they are using and alter their designs accordingly. The
creations are then sold to ethical retailers to appeal to the growing
market of progressive middle class women in India.

Considering that there are 15 million people with sight problems in
the country – and that many blind people fully trained in craftwork
still struggle to find sustainable jobs – Made In The Dark could help
improve quality of life by providing a platform for those with existing
talent, while also teaching them new skills and raising awareness of the
blind community. Are there other ways to help disadvantaged people show
off their skills in the business world?